33 ST. PETER'S STREET WESTGATE
- c.1894 - 1913 (could be as late as 1917)

CANTERBURY

*showing the sign of the studio of
H.B. Collis Photographic Artist top left (from my collection)

__

I find this one quite interesting
as it only names the photographer as "Collis", all the other
ones shown actually say H.B. Collis. The back shows possibly Maggie
Louisa Ledger aged 3 months & fortnight - 2 Sept. Courtesy of a
frequent visitor to the site.

"Young handsome gentleman"
A CDV, H.B. Collis, Canterbury - courtesy of a frequent visitor to the
site

An unnamed photograph from May &
Amelia Inge's album supplied by a descendant. Some of the photographs
may date back to the 1860s. May Inge was a grocer in Canterbury and
a Bible thumping Methodist lay preacher. Amelia was John Hobday's daughter.
John Hobday was a businessman of many trades. In 1882 an advert described
him as a "Cabinet Maker, Upholster, Auctioneer, Appraiser, House
Agent, House Decorator, Undertaker, &c., 60 & 61 Palace Street,
Canterbury. Contractor for Removal of Furniture in Pantechnicon Vans,
by Road or Rail."

An unnamed photograph from May &
Amelia Inge's album supplied by a descendant. Some of the photographs
may date back to the 1860s. May Inge was a grocer in Canterbury and
a Bible thumping Methodist lay preacher. Amelia was John Hobday's daughter.
John Hobday was a businessman of many trades. In 1882 an advert described
him as a "Cabinet Maker, Upholster, Auctioneer, Appraiser, House
Agent, House Decorator, Undertaker, &c., 60 & 61 Palace Street,
Canterbury. Contractor for Removal of Furniture in Pantechnicon Vans,
by Road or Rail."

An unnamed photograph from May &
Amelia Inge's album supplied by a descendant. Some of the photographs
may date back to the 1860s. May Inge was a grocer in Canterbury and
a Bible thumping Methodist lay preacher. Amelia was John Hobday's daughter.
John Hobday was a businessman of many trades. In 1882 an advert described
him as a "Cabinet Maker, Upholster, Auctioneer, Appraiser, House
Agent, House Decorator, Undertaker, &c., 60 & 61 Palace Street,
Canterbury. Contractor for Removal of Furniture in Pantechnicon Vans,
by Road or Rail."

An unnamed photograph from May &
Amelia Inge's album supplied by a descendant. Some of the photographs
may date back to the 1860s. May Inge was a grocer in Canterbury and
a Bible thumping Methodist lay preacher. Amelia was John Hobday's daughter.
John Hobday was a businessman of many trades. In 1882 an advert described
him as a "Cabinet Maker, Upholster, Auctioneer, Appraiser, House
Agent, House Decorator, Undertaker, &c., 60 & 61 Palace Street,
Canterbury. Contractor for Removal of Furniture in Pantechnicon Vans,
by Road or Rail."

An unnamed photograph from May &
Amelia Inge's album supplied by a descendant. Some of the photographs
may date back to the 1860s. May Inge was a grocer in Canterbury and
a Bible thumping Methodist lay preacher. Amelia was John Hobday's daughter.
John Hobday was a businessman of many trades. In 1882 an advert described
him as a "Cabinet Maker, Upholster, Auctioneer, Appraiser, House
Agent, House Decorator, Undertaker, &c., 60 & 61 Palace Street,
Canterbury. Contractor for Removal of Furniture in Pantechnicon Vans,
by Road or Rail."

The gun was engraved by Mr. E.S.
Beeching of High Street, the gun sits in the Tower Museum

An unnamed photograph from May &
Amelia Inge's album supplied by a descendant. Some of the photographs
may date back to the 1860s. May Inge was a grocer in Canterbury and
a Bible thumping Methodist lay preacher. Amelia was John Hobday's daughter.
John Hobday was a businessman of many trades. In 1882 an advert described
him as a "Cabinet Maker, Upholster, Auctioneer, Appraiser, House
Agent, House Decorator, Undertaker, &c., 60 & 61 Palace Street,
Canterbury. Contractor for Removal of Furniture in Pantechnicon Vans,
by Road or Rail."

In the early 1870's at the age of 12 Henry was
at home with his parents Henry and Sarah in St. Aldate, Oxfordshire,
his father was a college servant, and all of his siblings were in school
(Laura W, Amy Hayward, Alfred W and Helen M.)

Sometime before 1881 Henry
moved to Canterbury and was living at 5 Castle Row in St. Mildred/Dane
John, he was a Photographer from St. Eddes, Oxfordshire.

On October 30th, 1886, Henry (age 28) married
Adelaide Amelia Allen (29), at St. Paul, Bow Common, Middlesex, London.
Adelaide was born in Australia, and was the daughter of Ellen and Charles
William Allen. Adelaide was living at 243 Bundett Road in London at
the time of thier marriage, her father is Charles
William Allen a Photographer. Witnesses at the wedding are: Henry
Collis, Walter Allen and Amy Hayward Collis.

In 1889 Henry's studio is located at 47a St.
George's Street.

By the early 1890's Henry and Adelaide have 2
children, Raymond and Johnney, and the family are living at 46 St. George's
Street.

July 2, 1894 - Copywright for "photograph
of fat baby, full length, sitting."

1897 The British Almanac - Canterbury - H.B.
Collis, Royal Westgate Studio. Under Royal Patronage.

In the early 1900's Henry and family are living
at 33 St. Peter's Street, his extended family also includes his mother
in law, Emma Allen who is from London.

Dec 2, 1901 - "Sydney Smith, and errand
boy aged 14 of Littlebourne, convicted of stealing 4s 6d in money from
his employer's coat pocket. Witness statements: Henry Beauchamp Collis,
employer of the defendant, a Photographer living at Westgate House Canterbury...."
the defendant was convicted, but was released on probation and a surety
of 2 pounds from Albert Henry Amey of Nunnery Road." CCA-CC-J/V/1901/239

In 1901 Henry's sister Amy and widowed mother
Sarah are living at Regent House in the Grange, Lancashire. Amy has
her own Milliners business with at least 5 women working for her.

January of 1912 he photographed Ethel M. Clarke,
born 1884 in Kensington, London (see above photo)

1912 a photo by Collis of Fred W. Clayton of
St. Augustine's College in the CCA archives - CCA/U88/A/7/38/157

1913 - Henry Beauchamp Collis, 33 St. Peter's
Street, Canterbury

1917-18, 33 St. Peter's Street - Ackland &
Youngman (late H.B. Collis) artistic photographers, enlargers and picture
framers, by this time Henry has moved to Sturry (2 miles north-east)
of Canterbury, and is living at Norfolk House

If you have any information or photo's from
Henry Beauchamp Collis / H. B. Collis that you wish to share, please